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August 2009

Even the biggest technophobe can’t have missed the soaring popularity of social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter over the past couple of years.

Social networking websites can be a powerful channel for firms to communicate with their customers and can build and reinforce brand recognition. Many companies have successfully incorporated social media into their marketing strategy and use it to promote and grow their businesses

But with social networking sites fast becoming the new frontier of the internet, unmonitored use of these sites in the workplace can create reputational, liability and information security risks for the employer.

Facebook and Twitter have recently fallen prey to cyber attacks which have raised serious questions over security loopholes in these sites. A recent survey by IT security firm Sophos revealed that a third of respondents use one password across multiple sites; so if one account is compromised, all accounts are vulnerable. A username/password combination is still the most popular method of accessing IT systems and websites, but its shortcomings are well documented and the need for additional security levels have become even more apparent through the rise of social networking sites.

No doubt, social networking sites have revolutionized communication for individuals and businesses and are making a huge contribution to business networking. But, it is vital that companies also protect themselves against the risks. For any company that uses - or allows its employees to use - social networking sites, additional layers of security for access control will form the first line of defense in the fight against rising number of cyber crime attacks.

HID Global recently launched its new logical access solution HID on the Desktop™ that is designed to strengthen the overall security of a desktop/network logon by requiring two-factor authentication. This means the employee uses their physical access smart card in addition to a password or PIN-based logon. This way, organizations all over the world can further protect themselves from network attacks and have greater control and security over who is accessing what in their IT networks.

What are some of the tactics your organization is implementing to avoid the risks of social networking in order to reap the benefits? Let us know your thoughts.

The 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington DC in 2001 had far-reaching implications for global security. We all remember some of the extra security measures that were introduced in the aftermath of the attacks, like the snaking queues at baggage controls at airport check-ins and the high-profile police presence in our cities.

Part of the reason that the 9/11 hijackers were able to train and live undetected for so long was because they obtained and used falsified ID. In some cases, uncovering their true identity proved to be a lengthy process.

For Middle Eastern governments, this terrorist threat from their own soil motivated them to look again at ID security issues. Since the 2001 attacks, these same governments have invested substantial financial resource in ramping up security to monitor and prevent repeat terrorist atrocities in the future.

HID Global is reaping the rewards of a coordinated firm-wide effort to build brand recognition for our Fargo ID card printers, with several Middle Eastern governments already working with us.

We have forged strong relationships with governments, integrators, vendors and contractors in these technology-savvy markets, where high-quality products are crucial to winning the confidence of key decision-makers. And the strength of these relationships has enabled us to win projects that were previously dismissed as unwinnable.

The result? HID is seen as a partner and expert rather than just a provider. We have worked hard to position ourselves as a trusted advisor to government bodies has put us in a very strong position to build on our foothold in the Middle East.

With three years remaining before the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games in London I recently attended an event with LOCOG (The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games) for an update on plans.

Not only will sporting records be broken and history made, the Games will be made up of an extraordinary collection of buildings and unique sporting venues, which I can assure you that people all over the country will be proud to see London and the U.K. at the centre of the sporting world come 2012.

The organizers are engaging heavily with venue owners, local authorities, delivery partners, suppliers, contractors and stakeholders to ensure they deliver a spectacular, safe event within a clear, achievable timeframe - it sounds exciting already doesn’t it!

There will be around 7,000 direct contracts awarded, which together with suppliers will form supply chains of around 75,000 opportunities. These range from construction, engineering and manufacturing to creative, merchandising and retail. Most of the opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are likely to come from further down the supply chains. That is where, HID Global is hopeful of securing business.

Provisions have been made for more than 20,000 media representatives, preparation to accommodate 17,000 athletes and officials from more than 200 nations, who will settle into the Olympic Village. Over 70,000 volunteers will be trained and almost 10 million tickets are expected to be sold.

The impact that the London 2012 is having in the marketplace is momentous and the assigned HID “Olympic Team” are working hard to ensure HID plays a vital part as we attempt to leave no stone unturned and focus on new avenues for our greater involvement with many of our strategic partners, sister companies, influential people and organizations that have experience in these environments.

At this time, the Team is progressing at a steady pace on ensuring that our state-of-the-art readers are installed on walls, secure credentials are issued to many athletes, staff, contractors and volunteers, networked access products are hidden in cupboards, software is loaded onto PC’s, and card printers are on desks. Who knows - we might be able to deliver “newer” innovative products too. We’ll have to see what’s around the corner.

As the Team begins to increase momentum, push every boundary and raise their game, I would like to start by reaching out for feedback in respect to individual success stories in this space (or similar environments) so we can strengthen our value proposition and provide customer value so that London 2012 will be both memorable and rewarding for HID.